Over the duration of 2005, Norbert has purchased a particular beverage on a regular basis. He notes near the end of the year that he only ever bought two at a time, and only ever on Sundays and Thursdays. What was the beverage, and what was the rationale behind his spending habits?

Was he delivering something to the store on Sundays and Thursdays? picking something up, but not purchasing it ? (was he the garbage man?) no to all

By John Morahan (Wunderland) on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 07:06 am:

Did he always buy it on Sundays for the same reason? Did he always buy it on Thursdays for the same reason? Was his reason for buying it on Sundays the same as his reason for buying it on Thursdays? yes to all questions

Does he opt for this drink because he likes the taste of it? He likes the fact that it contains caffeine? According to the puzzle, he buys two of these drinks at a time? Are his activities prior to buying the drinks relevant? What about his activities after the purchases? Typically when he buys a drink(s), is his next action to exit the store(s) and get into his vehicle? Or maybe to exit the store and walk somewhere? Or maybe to sit/stand somewhere in the same building in which he buys the drinks?

Does he opt for this drink because he likes the taste of it? no He likes the fact that it contains caffeine? yesAccording to the puzzle, he buys two of these drinks at a time? yesAre his activities prior to buying the drinks relevant? no What about his activities after the purchases? yesTypically when he buys a drink(s), is his next action to exit the store(s) and get into his vehicle? see below Or maybe to exit the store and walk somewhere? for the purposes of the puzzle, this is correct, although the first option would work also Or maybe to sit/stand somewhere in the same building in which he buys the drinks? no

Does what he does on Mondays and Fridays have any relevance? YES What he does on Sundays and Thursdays besides buying the drinks? no

Does he do something on Sunday and Thursday nights that requires him to be up late? YES to stay up all night? YES, if necessary

He drinks one immediately. Does he drink the other one within half an hour? within one hour? two hours? three hours? generally around 3 hours later four hours? six hours? eight hours? twelve hours? twenty-four hours?

His work schedule: does he work night shift on Thursday/Friday and Sunday/Monday?

Does he work 10 hour shifts those days? 12-hour shifts?

Is he on-call some Thursday and Sunday nights?

Does he work a second, part-time job on either Thursday & Sunday or Monday & Friday, and a full-time job Monday-Friday? So that his work day is twice as long those two days, and he needs the energy drink to keep going?

His work schedule: does he work night shift on Thursday/Friday and Sunday/Monday? Hmm. FA

Does he work 10 hour shifts those days? 12-hour shifts? see above

Is he on-call some Thursday and Sunday nights? no

Does he work a second, part-time job on either Thursday & Sunday or Monday & Friday, and a full-time job Monday-Friday? no So that his work day is twice as long those two days, and he needs the energy drink to keep going? no

His work schedule is yope-ishly relevant. Let's try to resolve that yope...

Is what's relevant to the puzzle the days he works? the hours he works? the shift he works? how long his workweek is? how much overtime he works? when he works overtime?

or is it the days that he doesn't work that are relevant?

Is what he does on Mondays and Fridays related to his work?

Are Monday and Fridays his days off?

Is what his work is relevant? would it be helpful to determine?

He was neither at work, on the way to work or on the way home from work when he bought the drinks. Was he on a break from work? (this is based on the assumption that "at work" meant that he worked at the gas station store where he bought the drinks...)

His work schedule is yope-ishly relevant. Let's try to resolve that yope... What a splendid idea

Is what's relevant to the puzzle the days he works? yes, so to speak the hours he works? the shift he works? how long his workweek is? how much overtime he works? when he works overtime? no to the rest

or is it the days that he doesn't work that are relevant? no

Is what he does on Mondays and Fridays related to his work? yes... so to speak

Are Monday and Fridays his days off? no

Is what his work is relevant? YES would it be helpful to determine? very

He was neither at work, on the way to work or on the way home from work when he bought the drinks. correct Was he on a break from work? (this is based on the assumption that "at work" meant that he worked at the gas station store where he bought the drinks...) incorrect

And now I will hope that you aren't being exceedingly devious with your reply that the days he works are "so to speak" relevant, and will apply my sledgehammer...Does he work Monday? Tuesday? Wednesday? Thursday? Friday? Saturday? Sunday?

Did you know that "day" is one of those words that starts to look rather odd when you type it a number of times in quick succession?

And now I will hope that you aren't being exceedingly devious with your reply that the days he works are "so to speak" relevant, and will apply my sledgehammer... Does he work Monday? Tuesday? Wednesday? Thursday? Friday? Saturday? Sunday? We-ell... so to speak, he works every day

Did you know that "day" is one of those words that starts to look rather odd when you type it a number of times in quick succession? day day day day day day day... By Jove, you're right. Thank you for saving me from what could've been a most awkward experience. Or something.

is he married? no does his wife work? FA :P is he a stay at home dad some days of the week? and needs energy to watch their newborn child late into the night? no

By Vesica (Vesica) on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 03:14 pm:

So...he does not work? noAt all? well, we could get philosophical, but he doesn't do any sort of paid labourOr rather not in a traditional way? no

Is he human? (I would assume, but you know about assumptions...) I miss the days when, regardless of the puzzle statement, someone would post a prefabricated reply within 2 minutes saying 'all he's the same? all he's human?'. He's human

Does he put off his assignments and has to pull all-nighters on Sundays and Thursdays to finish? YES!

********** SPOILER **********

Norbert is a university student with a penchant for procrastination. He always does his assignments the night before they are due. These dates are invariably either at the beginning or the end of the academic week. He always buys 2 bottles of energy drink, as it requires that amount of caffeine to keep him awake for long enough.

Well done, and thank you for playing. The prize for spoiling will be two bottles of V black, which should arrive via e-mail on either Sunday or Thursday night.

Nice puzzle - reminds me of my college experience. I always worked better under pressure, so I'd wait until the last minute to work on big projects and usually end up getting either a high B or an A for a grade (this bugged a lot of people I knew, who started working on projects as soon as they got the assignment).

"Hard work pays off in the future, but laziness pays off now."

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